Do not judge

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In "Love trumps rage" (Forum, Dec. 28), Stephanie Christian is happy that "there are still good people who have the strength and courage to forgive those who have done terrible things to them." It's not her place to judge anyone by their ability to forgive.

As the wife of a Trolley Square survivor, I can say that until you've been victimized by gun violence, caring for a husband who is paralyzed and in pain 24 hours a day, until you've felt the mental trials and financial loss that go with it, you have no right to tell anyone when or if they should forgive.

Since Columbine, little has been done to screen those who shouldn't have guns from acquiring them. Adopting a national program to identify at-risk teens would be a good start.

Armed citizens? At Trolley Square, the added time and confusion in determining who the shooter was among armed citizens would surely have resulted in my husband's death.

Guns are made to kill things. In the wrong hands, they kill innocent people. Responsible, meaningful safeguards need to be enacted. Until that happens, mass murder and mayhem will continue. That, in Christian's word, should enrage us all.